Clothes-pounder.



nu. 667,703. Patented Feb. l2, 19m.

Mmes.

CLOTHES POUNDEB.

(Application led May 4, 1900.)

:(No Model.)

llamen STATES ATENT Fries,

BERT HINES, OF LYONS, KANSAS.

CLOTHES-POUNDER.

SPECXFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,703, dated February12, 1901.

Application filed May 4, 1900, Serial N0. 15,479. \N 11106.81.)

To @ZZ wtont i375 may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT HINES, a citizen of the United States, residingat Lyons, in the county of Rice and State of Kansas, have invented a newand useful Clothes-Founder, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clothes-pounders, and has for its object toproduce a device of this kind which will be simple, efficient, and verydurable; and it consists in the improved construction and novelarrangement of parts of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeralsindicate corresponding parts in each of the views in which they occur,Figure l is an elevation of my improved clothes-pounder. Fig. 2 is abottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan View, the handlebeing omitted; and Fig. is a central vertical section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l indicates the shell ormain portion of my pounder, which is conical and of any suitable sizeand material and is preferably provided around its lower edge with astrengthening bead or flange 2. Arranged transversely of the shell,substantially midway between the top and bottom, is a partition 3, whichis preferably arched upward or slightly dome-shaped upon its lower side.Extending from the partition up through the top of the shell is acylindrical tube 4 for the reception of the handle 5. The lower end ofthe tube is secured to the partition in any suitable manner, as by meansof solder, and the intermediate portion is secured to the top of theshell in the same manner. The top of the tube is preferably providedwith a strengthening bead or ring 6.

Between the partition and the bottom of the pounder is arranged a wireguard 7, which is preferably composed of four wires which cross eachother at right angles near their ends and are preferably bowed slightlydownward. The ends of each wire are bent upwardly at an acute angle, sothat they can be rigidly secured to the inclined walls of the shells,and thereby render the guard so strong and rigid that it will not beeasily broken or got out of place.

The lower portion of the shell is provided with perforations 8,preferably four in number, and arranged between the ends of the wires ofthe wire guard. Arranged in front of each opening upon the interior ofthe shell is a slight shield or partition 9, which extends down to thebottom of the pounder and is curved inward, so as not to obstruct theentrance to the opening. On the outside of the shell are arranged tubeslO, which extend from the openings S nearly up to the top of the shelll. The lower end of each tube is preferably eut olf at an angle to itsaxis and provided with a cap or cover ll, which will stand substantiallyvertical when the pounder is in use. The cap is secured to the shellbelow the opening 8 and preferably to the bead, whereby the opening isclosed and the bead is strengthened at that point. Secured to the tube 4above the top of the shell 1 is a conical shield l2, which extends downover the upper ends of the tubes l0 and is secured thereto by means ofsolder or otherwise.

Wfhen constructed in this manner it is evident that my improved pounderwill possess great strength and durability, for the reason that theshell will be braced transversely by means of the partition and the wireguard upon the inside and vertically by means of the tubes lO upon theoutside. It can be made from sheet metal, preferably tin or othernon-corrosive material, whereby it can be made so light as not to betiresome in use. The interior of the shell above the partition ishermetically sealed against the entrance of water, and thereby theliabilityof decay from l rust is entirely avoided.

In using my improved pounder the clothes are placed in a tub that ispartially filled with water, and the pounderis forcibly driven down uponthe clothes by means of the handle. As soon as the lower portion of thepounder enters the water the air therein is confined and compressed to agreater or less extent between the top of the water and the arched ordome-shaped partition. When the limit of compression has been reached,the air within the pounder will be forced out through the clothes,thereby assisting materially in the cleansing operation.

The guard-wires are located intermediate the partition and the loweredge of the pounder, so as to permit the edge of the IOO pounder beingforced down into the clothes a sufficient distance to assist incleansing them, and yet a portion of the clothes will not be permittedto be forced up into the dome, and thus expel the air gradually. Byforming the guard from Wires it can be cheaply constructed, and it willnot injure the clothes as would a thin sharp edge.

Although I have shown what I consider the best form of constructing myimproved pounder, yet I reserve the right to make such changes andalterations therein as v'vill come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a clothes-pounder, the co1nbination,with a conical shell providedwith openings at its lower edge, shields in front of said openings inthe interior of the shell, and hollow braces extending down its exteriorto said openings, of a shield over the upper ends of said braces, adome-shaped partition within the shell, a handle-socket extending fromthe partition up through the top of the shell, and a Wire guard belowthe partition, comprising four downwardly-bowed wires crossing eachother near their ends and having their ends bent upwardly at an acuteangle and secured to the interior of the shell intermediate thepartition and the lower edge of the shell, Sub stantially as described.

` BERT I-IINES.

W'itnesses:

RALPH B. FORNEY, HARRY L. NEFF.

